J 350F Lecture Notes - Lecture 20: Disclose, Image Editing
Document Summary
Activity that directly interferes with a court"s administration of justice can be considered contempt of court. Contempt punishable by ines, jail time, or both. Criminal contempt conduct that deies the dignity and power of the court and is usually punished by some form of sanction ine or jail. Civil contempt results when a reporter refuse to answer question or provide journalistic materials that would beneit one of the parties. Sanction here is not punitive but coercive accumulates day by day and ends when journalist complies or it becomes moot. Dickinson rule must obey even an invalid court order. Courts sometimes make mistakes or act improperly by issuing unconstitutional orders. But you are still liable for criminal contempt if you disobey the order. Unconstitutional orders, like prior restraints, can interfere with publication, hamper reporting e orts, and tie up the newsroom in expensive legal maneuvering. But that is our system that also protects your rights to discover and report stories.
